Media Notes

In DC, Adam Kilgore cited a Nationals team official as saying that MASN "did not exercise a 2012 option for play-by-play announcer Bob Carpenter by yesterday's deadline." The official said that the decision "does not imply Carpenter will or will not return for next season, only that MASN would need to negotiate a new contract for him in the offseason if they intend to keep him -- and he intends to stay." A source said that Carpenter "hoped his option for 2012 would be picked up and neither he nor his agent agreed for the option not to be exercised" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/2).

TRYING TO MAKE NICE: On Long Island, Neil Best reported the Jets have invited WFAN-AM to "do a show from their practice facility." Host Mike Francesa "will visit Aug. 11 after that day's Mets game, perhaps a step toward normalizing relations with the team." The Jets "have insisted all along they have no feud with Francesa despite his sharp, relentless criticism" of the organization and coach Rex Ryan. Francesa said of the invite, "I'm not sure; I'll take it at face value right now. I'll go out there with an open mind and a clean slate" (NEWSDAY.com, 8/2).

OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick reports former Browns and Jets coach Eric Mangini "has agreed to become an ESPN studio football analyst." ESPN is expected to announce the addition of Mangini "within the next few days" (N.Y. POST, 8/3). Meanwhile, former NFLer Hugh Douglas has joined ESPN as an NFL studio analyst, making his debut on Monday's edition of "NFL Live" (ESPN).

SPREADING ITS WINGS: In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin wrote having Versus "be all sports" when it is rebranded as NBC Sports Network "will be good" for IndyCar. Cavin is "not sure it can ever rival ESPN," but through "promotion by NBC, it can become a destination channel." Cavin: "It will be interesting to see what other sports properties land there. That will be one of the factors helping or hurting IndyCar" (INDYSTAR.com, 8/2).